Cookies are small amounts of data that help the websites you visit remember your information, including accounts and passwords. This makes it easier for users to access and use their favorite websites seamlessly. Cookies can also store additional information, such as personal searches. The data is then used to improve content suggestions as well as the personalized ads you see.
While many users view cookies with suspicion mainly due to privacy concerns, their presence does serve a purpose, and turning them off may seriously cripple your browsing experience. Some websites, for example, may not even run if you don’t allow cookies on them.
Cookies are usually enabled in your mobile browser, but if they are switched off, then you may wish to take the necessary steps to turn them back on. In this guide, we show you how you can enable cookies in the Chrome, Firefox and Opera browsers for Android.
How to Enable Cookies in Chrome
Chrome is the browser of choice for many mobile users, given that it comes pre-installed on most Android device these days. Here’s how to ensure your cookies are enabled in your browser.
1. Fire up the Chrome app on your Android device.
2. Tap on the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner of the display.
3. Select Settings.
4. Scroll down until you find the “Site settings” option and tap on it.
5. Click on Cookies.
6. Select “Allow cookies” from the menu. Alternatively, you can select “Block third-party cookies,” although Chrome warns you that features on some sites may break due to this.
Note that from here you can also “Add site exceptions” for the settings you’ve selected. If you enabled “Allow cookies,” you can add a few websites to be exempt from this rule.
How to Clear Cookies in Chrome
Deleting your cookies from time to time can be useful for a number of reasons, including clearing some space on your device or fixing errors that may arise when you visit websites that have been updated.
Note: if you’re about to delete your cookies, consider doing the same for your browser’s cache. The two options are usually found in the same section.
1. Open the Chrome app on your Android device.
2. Tap on the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner of the display.
3. Select Settings.
4. Tap on “Privacy & Security.”
5. Click on “Clear browsing data.”
6. Add a checkmark to “Cookies and other site data,” and uncheck the other options if you want to keep them.
How to Enable Cookies in Firefox
If your go-to browser on mobile is Mozilla Firefox, then follow these steps to turn on cookies.
1. Open Mozilla’s Firefox on your Android device.
2. In the upper-right corner, tap on the three-dot menu.
3. Select Settings.
4. Look for “Enhanced Tracking Protection” under “Privacy and security.”
5. The feature should be on by default. There are three modes to choose from here, the first one being “Standard.” This option enables most cookies (with the exception of cross-site tracking cookies) while protecting you from social media and cross-site trackers and cryptominers. Alternatively, if you wish to be rid of cookies, you should choose Custom, which blocks all tracking content. You can select which trackers and scripts to block (cookies, tracking content, cryptominers and fingerprints).
From the same screen, you can add exceptions from the rule you’ve applied. You can also turn Enhanced Tracking Protection off completely, if this is what you prefer.
For those using Firefox Focus, Mozilla’s minimalist privacy browser for mobile, the steps to enable cookies are a little bit different.
1. Open Mozilla Focus on your device.
2. Tap on the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner of the display.
3. Go to Settings.
4. Select “Privacy & Security.”
5. Tap on “Block cookies” and select “No” or choose whichever option suits your needs best from the four available.
How to Clear Cookies in Firefox
1. Open Mozilla Firefox on your device.
2. Tap on the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner of the display.
3. Go to Settings.
4. Scroll down until you find “Privacy & Security” and select “Delete browsing data.”
5. Select Cookies and check any other options you want to delete.
On Firefox Focus, you don’t have to worry about clearing cookies and other data like browsing history manually because the browser automatically clears it on quit.
How to Enable Cookies in Opera
If you’re working with Opera, enabling cookies is a straightforward affair.
1. Fire up the Opera app on your mobile device.
2. Tap on the Opera logo in the lower-right side of the display.
3. Select Settings.
4. Scroll down until you reach the Privacy section and select “Cookies.”
5. The option should be “Enabled” by default, but if it’s not, turn it on manually or select one of the other two options: “Disabled” or “Enabled, excluding third-party.”
How to Clear Cookies in Opera
1. Fire up the Opera app on your mobile device.
2. Tap on the Opera logo in the lower-right side of the display.
3. Select Settings.
4. Scroll down until you reach the Privacy section and select “Clear browsing data.”
5. Select “Cookies and site data.” Check as many boxes as you feel is needed.
Now that your cookies are enabled on your Android, you may wish to educate yourself further regarding the topic by finding out what those cookie consent notices actually mean or learning to hide the annoying “Accept cookies” messages from websites.
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